Pilot

Scottish soft rock band Pilot was formed in 1973 by David Paton (bass and vocals), Billy Lyall (synthesizer, flute, and vocals), and Stuart Tosh (drums). They added a few members along the way, including two chaps who were former members of teeny boppers the Bay City Rollers, plus session guitarist Ian Bairnson, before issuing their self-titled debut in 1974. The album spawned a Top 20 hit with "Magic," but it was their 1975 single "January," off their sophomore effort Second Flight, that proved to be the biggest success of the group's entire career, rocketing to the number one spot. Further albums followed (1976's Morin Heights and 1977's Two's a Crowd), as did a few more moderate-sized hit singles ("Call Me Round," "Just a Smile") before Pilot folded. Tosh soon resurfaced as part of 10cc, as both Paton and Bairnson concentrated on studio work, playing on Kate Bush's 1978 debut, The Kick Inside, as well as on recordings for Alan Parsons, who had produced their first, second, and fourth albums. Lyall issued a solo album, Solo Casting (which featured his fellow Pilot bandmates), and later joined the group Dollar, before passing away in December of 1989 from an AIDS-related illness. Paton and Bairnson returned in 2002 with Blue Yonder. Twelve years later, they brought Tosh back into the fold for A Pilot Project: A Return to the Alan Parsons Project -- a set of covers recorded in tribute to Parsons' creative partner Eric Woolfson. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi

Pilot was a Scottish band that was remnants of the Bay City Rollers. They were produced by Alan Parspns,, Abby Road engineer during the Beatles heyday in the studio. Alan Parsons went on to write and produce the Alan Parsons Project employing members of Pilot. Other members eventually played with 10cc live and in the studio. Magic charted high in the summer of 75 and enjoyed a slight rebirth upon rerelease the following summer. Rikenhagen@me.com

Actually, it is in the United Kingdom that Magic peaked at number eleven in late 1974 and January , the followup, hit number one (Call Me Round and Just A Smile were lesser top 40 hits). In America, Magic was their only top 40 hit peaking at number five in June of 1975 -- so the bio is correct but only referencing the British charts.

I have won SO MUCH money off this song (& people thinking they know it all...) So many times I've heard people say this was McCartney or Wings w/McCartney. I win every time... thanks, Pilot! Awesome song!

I think these are different bands. Pilot of "It's Magic" fame and the "Anthology" album was a 70s pop band. Pilot of "Stranger's Waltz" and Dharma Bums connection is a 90s alt-rock band. Wikipedia has them mixed up too.